Reparations and Foundations by saras_girl feature this strongly. Draco has a much keener than normal sense of smell as a result of past drug use, so that individuals have their own unique scent(s). He even describes what Avada Kedavra smells like at one point.
Brilliant! Exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for. And thank you for taking the time to come over to my journal and point me to them.
But also, see, here's the problem. Now you've given me a rec for two fics I had no idea existed, and at the quick glance I've given them to find scenes that are useful for the presentation, they look really interesting and well written and now I'll have to go read them which is frustrating because it's going to have to wait until after this weekend. It's taking quite a lot of effort to resist the temptation to read them now.
Harry is a Healer. A lot of diagnostic spells that are used for healing smell like lavender, so it basically infuses the ward he works in at St Mungo's.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione like to go out for dinner together on Fridays, incognito, so they use Polyjuice potion. In this story, it's mentioned how everyone still smells the same, like themselves, no matter how they look.
(You can skim Chapter One of Reparations for mentions of the above two examples.)
Chapter Four is where Draco describes why his sense of smell is so keen (chronic drug use, a drug called Chromia invented by the author). This is also where he describes what Avada Kedavra smells like: AK smells like... a little like the air just before a lightning strike, and a little like wet leavesActually, my laziness has me looking for these references just doing a search by chapter for the words smell, scent, breathe, etc. She uses scent a lot in these stories. There's another reference before the description of
( ... )
:-D That's why I glomped on your offer. It actually turns out to be quite difficult to come up with good examples unless you already know where to look. Searching for quotes on scent of smell in writing usually returns information on how to play with the idea, but lacks results for examples in good writing.
I did start skimming and picked up one or two examples from Reparations, and then had to stop because I realised I'd started reading the story instead and I don't have time for that. "No, stop that! Bad Daisee!"
I love the idea that everyone still smells like themselves because Polyjuice only changes their appearance, and the scent of an AK.
She(?) uses scent in a variety of interesting ways, which is exactly what I was trying to find, because it doesn't always have to be about how the scenery smells. Beautifully evocative. And I haven't even read the story in its entirety yet!
It's so hard to resist when a story pulls at you! :) I forgot to mention, but good luck with the talk this weekend.
I'll have more time tonight, so I'll look for more examples in Reparations, and have a go at Foundations as well. Actually, I can probably find examples in the rest of her stories, and maybe have a look at other authors as well.
Okay, more examples of not-just-things-that-smell:
Reparations, Chapter 1: Harry slaps back and then envelops Hermione in a brief hug, momentarily allowing himself to revel in the warmth of her embrace and inhaling her familiar fresh, flowery scent. The glossy dark hair slides across his face and startles him.
“See you soon. You still smell like Hermione,” he adds absently.
She laughs warmly as she pulls away. “Of course I do, silly. Polyjuice changes the appearance and the voice, but not the basic essence of a person. You know that,” she chides.
Reparations, Chapter 10, Draco's description of what Harry smells like: Cedar. Muggle fabric softener. Espresso. Something sweet that I think you put on your hair. Those are all external things, though. A person’s individual smell, the smell that’s just them, that’s much harder to describe
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Also, how scent will bring about certain memories, as well...I probably should have given more examples of that :/
You've actually been brilliant, so don't apologise for not digging up even more!
These are excellent examples, thank you. In the end it may be harder to pick and choose if I have to cut down the length of the talk. These really are perfect for the sort of examples I was hoping to share.
It's so exciting, not just to have the right examples to hand, but to have discovered in the process of asking, a writer I previously didn't know.
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But also, see, here's the problem. Now you've given me a rec for two fics I had no idea existed, and at the quick glance I've given them to find scenes that are useful for the presentation, they look really interesting and well written and now I'll have to go read them which is frustrating because it's going to have to wait until after this weekend. It's taking quite a lot of effort to resist the temptation to read them now.
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I could find some examples for you if you'd like.
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Okay, a few things:
Harry is a Healer. A lot of diagnostic spells that are used for healing smell like lavender, so it basically infuses the ward he works in at St Mungo's.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione like to go out for dinner together on Fridays, incognito, so they use Polyjuice potion. In this story, it's mentioned how everyone still smells the same, like themselves, no matter how they look.
(You can skim Chapter One of Reparations for mentions of the above two examples.)
Chapter Four is where Draco describes why his sense of smell is so keen (chronic drug use, a drug called Chromia invented by the author). This is also where he describes what Avada Kedavra smells like: AK smells like... a little like the air just before a lightning strike, and a little like wet leavesActually, my laziness has me looking for these references just doing a search by chapter for the words smell, scent, breathe, etc. She uses scent a lot in these stories. There's another reference before the description of ( ... )
Reply
I did start skimming and picked up one or two examples from Reparations, and then had to stop because I realised I'd started reading the story instead and I don't have time for that. "No, stop that! Bad Daisee!"
I love the idea that everyone still smells like themselves because Polyjuice only changes their appearance, and the scent of an AK.
She(?) uses scent in a variety of interesting ways, which is exactly what I was trying to find, because it doesn't always have to be about how the scenery smells. Beautifully evocative. And I haven't even read the story in its entirety yet!
Reply
I'll have more time tonight, so I'll look for more examples in Reparations, and have a go at Foundations as well. Actually, I can probably find examples in the rest of her stories, and maybe have a look at other authors as well.
Reply
Reparations, Chapter 1: Harry slaps back and then envelops Hermione in a brief hug, momentarily allowing himself to revel in the warmth of her embrace and inhaling her familiar fresh, flowery scent. The glossy dark hair slides across his face and startles him.
“See you soon. You still smell like Hermione,” he adds absently.
She laughs warmly as she pulls away. “Of course I do, silly. Polyjuice changes the appearance and the voice, but not the basic essence of a person. You know that,” she chides.
Reparations, Chapter 10, Draco's description of what Harry smells like: Cedar. Muggle fabric softener. Espresso. Something sweet that I think you put on your hair. Those are all external things, though. A person’s individual smell, the smell that’s just them, that’s much harder to describe ( ... )
Reply
You've actually been brilliant, so don't apologise for not digging up even more!
These are excellent examples, thank you. In the end it may be harder to pick and choose if I have to cut down the length of the talk. These really are perfect for the sort of examples I was hoping to share.
It's so exciting, not just to have the right examples to hand, but to have discovered in the process of asking, a writer I previously didn't know.
Reply
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